The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-06
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
History of the Evolution of the National Fla
An Interesting Story.

History of the Evolution of the National Flag
An Interesting Story.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
The United States flag. the outward and visi-
bic symbol of our national existence, and Of the
principle of personal liberty and self govern
ment, was not the sudden and impromtu crea-
ton of a single day single mind. 1t was
gradually developed. after much thought and
consultation. by the fathers of the Republic. and
was evolved, IN a sense, from the many flags of
the colonial and revolutionary days On the first
settlement of this country by the pioneers from
England they naturally continued to make use
of the flag of the mother country
The first modification of that ensign in the
American colonies seems to have been made by
Governor Endicott. of Massachusetts, who, in
1886. eliminated the cross from the banner on
account of his hatred of Romanism, and substi-
tuted in its stead the Kings arms. few years
later, however the Legislature ordered the cross
back again, but various other notifications
were made soon afterward. In Sir Edmund
Andross time the flag of New England was
white. charged with St. Georges cross, and bear
ing in the center the letters j. r. (Jacobus Rex,
surmounted by the crown. The other colonies
further south had similar but slightly different
patterns for their flags
As the eighteenth century and the
revolutionary feeling began to assert itself
throughout the colonies 1t found expression in a
multitude Of new flags adopted on the impulse
of the moment. not only by separate colonies,
bu: even by separate towns and hamlets Capt.
Markoe, of the Philadelphia Light Horse in IVA
used flag with thirteen stripes; but the Union
flags" so often referred to in the newspapers of
that time, generally the ordinary English
red ensigns bearing the union jack. These
usually bore some patriotic motto, such
Liberty" Liberty and Union" After
active hostities had begun at Lexington the
Connecticut troops displayed on their standard
the arms of their colony. and, little later, by
act of the Provincial Congress, the regiments
were distinguished by the colors of their flags
AS for the Seventh, blue; for tie Eighth.
orange, etc.
It is uncertain what flag. if any. was carried
by the colonists at Bunker Hill. The flag
ried by General Putnam at the Prospect Hill
action, the 18th of July following, red,
with the Connecticut State motto side
and on the other IAN Appeal to Heaven" The
first armed vessel commissioned by Washington
sailed under the white flag with green pine
tree" The first republican flag unfurled in the
Southern States-blue, with white crescent in
the upper corner-was designed by Colonel
Moultrie and was hoisted over the Notifications
of Charleston, S. c., in September. 1773.
Late in that year Dr. Franklin and Messrs.
Lynch and Harrison were appointed to consider
the subject of a national flag. They agreed upon
flag consisting of the thirteen stripes of our
present national emblem In recognition of the
thirteen colonies, with the crosses of St George
and ST. Andrew EN- bazoned on the blue canton.
where the stars are now found. This new striped
flag was hoisted at Washington's army head
quarters at Cambridge the I'd of January,
1776 and found favor with the troops and popu-
lace. The crosses were retained in the flag, be-
cause at that time the American revolutonists
had not determined on an actual separation from
the mother country, but were contendiug mainly
for their rights as colonists
But on the 4th of July, 1776, the decree of in
dependence was made, and it at became
necessary to substitute something in place of
crosses. The matter involved long and grave
discussion, extending over many months. Final
ly 1t resolved by the American Congress on
the 14th of June. 1777. 'that the flag of the thr
teen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate
red and white, and that the union be thirteen
stars in field of blue, representing the
constellation" The origin of the idea OF the
stars and stripes is not satisfactorily ascerraned.
The number, thirteen, explains itself readily, of
course. and the colors, red, white and blue,
were those which would naturally suggest them
selves IN order to form a strong and agreeable
contrast
The stripes are said by some authorities to
have been borrowed from the Dutch, while tho
stars are generally supposed TO have been de-
rived from the old Washington family coat of
arms and some declare that both the stars and
the stripes may be traced to this source, while
others claim that the stars were al independent
suggestion fancy of John Adams. However
that may be, it is certain that Washington had
much to do in connection with the work of
lecting device for the national emblem. For
instance, the star in the original draft was six
pointed, but a ive-p pointed star was afterward
substituted, according to a sketch made in pen
Gil by Washington himself
This new flag is believed to have been first
flung to the breeze by Paul Jones the Ranger.
1t was carried by the army for the first time at
the battle of the BrAndyw1ne. and it remained
unchanged until 1874, when, Kentucky and Yer
mont having been admitted to the Union, it was
resolved that s'the flag of the United States be
the union be fifteen stars. white in blue field"
This the flag used in the war of 1812-the
immortal ''Sar-spangled banner" of Fort Nc
Henry. No further alteration was made until
1918, although several more States had been ad-
mitted meanwhile.
After the war of 1912 was over the matter of
the flag came up for consideration again, and it
becoming evident that the number of States
would soon be too large for illustration in the
stripes of the flag, the advice of Captain Samuel
G. Reid, of the United States navy. was followed
by Congress. which April 4, 1918, voted that
original thirteen and that the number of stars
should correspond to the number of States, a
new to be added on the Fourth of july next
succeeding the admission of each new State.
This flags legal existence began July 4, 1918
1t is the flag of our country to-day the blue field
now containing thirty eight stars In 1859 Con-
gress passed vote of thanks to Captain Reed
the designer of the flag, and it suggested at
that time that the mode of the arrangement of
the stars in the blue field should be prescribed by
law, but this idea was not carried out. Thus it
happens that in the flag, carried by mill
tary bodies, aud displayed throughout the coun-
try. the stars are almost always arranged in one
varably placed in parallel lines. The blue union,
with the stars, when used separately in the navy,
is called the union jack.
This is, in brief. the history OF the United
f1ag-the glorious stars and stripes-which has
been borne in trium ph through three great wars
and several minor conflicts, and has never vet
suffered defeat. and under which this great Ma
ton has lived and prospered through many
years of peace, and is apparently destined to
keep living and prospecting for ages yet to
come, and until the end of the world.
Forever float that standard sheet!
Where breathes the foe but falls before u.s.
With Freedoms soil beneath feet
And Freedoms banner streaming o er uss